Gratitude

Dimming The Lights

by Bill Brenner November 29, 2012 Gratitude

I’m taking a break from blogging here until Monday so I can focus on family business — specifically tonight’s wake and tomorrow’s funeral for Nana Ruth. If you knew Ruth Robinson and haven’t yet seen the Facebook page we created for her, please head over and “like” it. Thanks.

A Tribute to Nana Ruth

by Bill Brenner November 26, 2012 Gratitude

I’ve been thinking a lot about Erin’s grandmother, Ruth Robinson, since she passed away Friday morning. I have lots of memories, all cherished. Whenever I think of family, there’s always a lot of dysfunction to go with the joy. It’s like that in every family, and the dysfunction can be good, the stuff that goes into the humorous aspects of family lore. But when I think of Nana Ruth, I always see that smile. That…  [Read More]

Thank You, All

by Bill Brenner November 21, 2012 Gratitude

Things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving and every day: Jesus, of course. Music, including today’s selection: [spotify:track:5MjS49btXnlMRqPC9Fg2Aj] My wife, who seems to grow more beautiful by the day, and our children, who keep us young. My work, because cybersecurity never gets boring, the people in the industry are great friends I learn from daily and my office colleagues rock. My Aunt Robin (I’m glad we’re back in contact) and my extended family. My parents for sticking by me…  [Read More]

Life in a Place of Death

by Bill Brenner November 5, 2012 Gratitude

As regular readers know by now, I’ve been taking a class on how to keep my attention on the present. Saturday was an all-morning session that included a silent, hour-long walk through Oak Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, Mass. A lot of us tend to see cemeteries as a place of death. But I found a lot of life there, instead. Mood music: [spotify:track:4s4S5JJGfqXGlNY6eQZWQB] This wasn’t a new experience for me. There are three cemeteries within…  [Read More]

Prayers For Nana Ruth

by Bill Brenner October 12, 2012 Gratitude

Erin’s maternal grandmother, Ruth Robinson, has always been one of my favorites among the in-laws. Her smile is contagious. She loves unconditionally. She’s always there for all of us. Now, she needs all of us to be there for her. Nana Ruth has been in the hospital for the last couple weeks, and a few days ago she suffered a stroke. I don’t think she’s ever used a computer in her life, so she won’t see…  [Read More]

Cheering My Aunt As She Fights Breast Cancer

by Bill Brenner October 12, 2012 Gratitude

My Aunt Robin has been valiantly fighting breast cancer for the last several months, and I wanted to take a moment and thank her for showing us all how to do it with humor, grace and grit. Mood music: [spotify:track:4ygP2GX8MbCufiYz77XZtl] She’s always been a tough one. Why cancer chose to pick a fight with her is beyond me. It obviously had no idea who it was fucking with. I’m not the best nephew when it…  [Read More]

Most Days Are Like New England Weather

by Bill Brenner September 4, 2012 Gratitude

Last Friday started in a brutal fashion. I woke up more than an hour late after a lousy night’s sleep. As a result, I fell way behind with work. To top it all off, the kids had the day off and were making all kinds of noise. Mood music: [spotify:track:5H19HygtEjZJLdGtGdpSPR] For the first two hours of the day, my mood was bleak. My head pounded, I felt disoriented and I was convinced my day was…  [Read More]

Older But More Alive

by Bill Brenner August 24, 2012 Gratitude

Sunday is my 42nd birthday, which happens near a bunch of other birthdays in the family and at work. Inevitably, when discussing this, someone admits they’re depressed about being a year older. Mood music: [spotify:track:2qZu6ByfZFFb56CwZRfwTo] I have a different outlook, which is that when you reach another year without having dropped dead, that’s cause to celebrate. When I was sick with the Crohn’s Disease as a kid, I lost a lot of blood and developed several side…  [Read More]

Two Years Later, Remembering Joe Zippo

by Bill Brenner August 10, 2012 Gratitude

Hard to believe, but it’s been two years since the death of Joe “Zippo” Kelley. I’ve been listening to Zippo Raid’s Punk Is In Season disc a lot lately and I smile every time. I’ve made some wonderful friends these last two years and Joe is our common link. Sometimes it seems strange to me, because at the time of his death I hadn’t talked to Joe in years. Mood music: I’ve gotten to know his…  [Read More]

Family Reading Time

by Bill Brenner July 11, 2012 Gratitude

In our house, a cool nightly ritual has taken hold. We all gather on my bed and read until the kids reach their bedtime and the grown-ups (me specifically) pass out. Mood music: [spotify:track:27xIf7tzHPQFX068pFYlAh] Here’s what I love about it: We’re all together in one cozy spot. The kids have their faces buried in books, which always makes me a proud papa. After the typically chaotic days we live, with two demanding jobs and kids…  [Read More]

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